"Wake up Lucy," Somebody whispers to me shaking me lightly.

I'm a light sleeper so I wake up and look up to see Sodapop which makes me smile, "hey Pepsi-cola, you workin'  today?"

He nods, "yeah, wanna come?"

"I'd love to," I smile as I roll out of bed.

"You should move into our spare room," Soda offers.

"Nah, I couldn't do that," I yawn. "I don't wanna be a burden. I'm going home tonight to get some more clothes do laundry and stuff."

"C'mon, you shouldn't be there," he pleads.

I get up grabbing my last clean outfit out of my bag, my make-up, my jacket, and my shoes, "sorry, but this is my last little bit of clothes."

"Fine," he sighed giving in as I walk into the restroom.

I get changed into black ripped up jeans, my black leather jacket, red with white polka-dots crop top, red with white polka-dots bandana, red stilettos (I'm super short) and I put on my matte red lipstick to match my red nails. I don't wear a lot of makeup like the other greasers. I quickly throw on mascara, a hint of copper eye shadow and lightly dusted on blush. I walk out to see the gang and when they see me all their mouthes drop, "c'mon boys close your mouths you might catch a fly." I wink at the end, but all the guys close their mouths.

I walk over to Soda and Steve, "ready to go?"

"Yup," they both nod.

I smile as I grab my backpack, "I'm stopping at my house first."

**************************************

I walk into my house to find my dad passed out drunk and my mom gone -probably at work- . It's been like this since I was two and my grandmother died. I sneak upstairs, but after a few minutes in my room, I hear noise coming from down stairs. I swear under my breath as I speed up packing, but it's not fast enough. My dad shows up in the door frame, "awe, if it isn't little Lucy."

"Hi dad," I say coldly not even looking at him.

"Look at me!" He screams. I whimper a little, but turn to look at him. "That's better. I thought you weren't coming back. Why are you here?" I stay silent. "Answer me you good for nothing little bitch! Answer me now!"

"I-I needed clothes," I say quietly.

"Ah so you're taking my clothes," he concludes.

"I boug-" I start.

"Did I tell you to talk?" He asked.

"Uh no sir," I shake my head.

"Then don't speak. Understand?" He booms.

"I understand sir," I nod in fear.

He grabs me by my hair and drags me out of my room before throwing me downstairs. I stand up barly and get punched in the face for it, "stay down bitch!" He kicks me before grabbing a beer bottle and slamming it onto my back. "You were always a waste of space. I never liked you. We didn't want a kid and we still don't." I stand there pain in my eyes, but not letting out a single tear, crying is weakness. He slaps me across the face before kicking me in the stomach. He grabs a few beer bottle and throws them at me. I put my hands over my face causing it to crash on my hands instead of my face. This goes on for about ten minutes before my mom walks in gasping at the horror, "oh my god! Get off her!"

She pushes my dad off me making my dad yell, "dumb bitch."

She looks at me with sorrow in her eyes, "go get your stuff and then leave. It will only get worse."

I only then release all the cuts, bruises, casts, and stitches on her body, "is he hurting you mommy?"

"Just go baby girl," she commands. "I have to protect you."

"You don-" I start before my dad pushes her to the ground and turn to me. I scream as I run upstairs slamming my door and locking it behind me. I grab a few bags stuffing everything I can into the bags. I climb out of the window, but when I fall I land hard on the ground and I can hear a few cracks. I let out a small whimper before I limp to the DX.

Sodapop's P.O.V.

Lucy limps into the DX and falls on the ground. Steve and I both rush over to her. "Lucy, what's wrong?"

She closes her eyes then opens them slowly, "I went home."

"Steve go find help," I yell. "Hurry!" He runs out of the shop and I cup Lucy's face. "It's gonna be okay Lucy. I promise."

She shakes her head, "I can't go back there Sodapop. I can never go home again."

"It's gonna be okay though. The gang's gonna take care of you," I inform her as the gang all, but Darry burst through the door.

It's weird everybody looks horrified and sick, even Dally. I just hold her close to me. "Hey guys," she says weakly with an even weaker smile planted on her face.

"Hey Lucy," Two-bit bends down next to her. "Do you want to go to the hospital?"

She thinks for a while before shruging, "I guess so. I mean I think I broke things."

The gang laughs at how strong she is and Dally leans down next to her, "you sure are tough as nails kid."

She smirks, "is that why even Dallas Winston likes me?"

It's weird how when the gang gets here she can't be hurt and her walls go back up, but with me it's different. "Yes, that's why even Dallas Winston likes you," Dally laughs causing her to laugh weakly, but I can see it in her face it hurts.

"We should get her to a hospital," I suggest and she looks at me as if saying 'thank you'

"Yea, I hurt," she smiles slightly. I pick her up and we put her in a car that's I've been working on with Steve before speeding away.

Surprise! Her life is NOT perfect. She has a messed up family and pretends to be stronger than she truly is in front of the gang. Why? Is this why she's living with Darry? Will she ever go back? Will she get better? How long has this been happening? Is her mother also getting hurt? Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!

-Beth